Police: Mavericks' Smith may be in trouble once again

Posted: Friday, December 03, 1999

The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - Leon Smith, the troubled teen-ager with the Dallas Mavericks, was being sought for questioning by police Thursday after they received a report he threatened his ex-girlfriend with a gun at her Chicago high school.

The allegations are the latest bizarre twist involving the 19-year-old who jumped straight from high school to the pros.

Authorities have not issued an arrest warrant for the 6-foot-11 Smith, but said they want to talk to him about the alleged confrontation, police spokesman Edward Alonzo said.

Police have not said that the Smith they are looking for is the Dallas player, but NBA players union director Billy Hunter confirmed the connection.

"I think the young man is in serious need of help," Dallas coach Don Nelson said after a 101-95 victory at Chicago. "I've known that for quite some time and I hope he gets it."

Smith allegedly went to John Marshall High School on Chicago's West Side early Wednesday morning and confronted the 16-year-old girl. Smith threatened the girl and then told her he would shoot her brother if she told him about it, Alonzo said.

Smith then produced a handgun and showed it to the girl, who fled, police said. The girl reported the incident to police.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that Smith and his ex-girlfriend, a star basketball player at Marshall, had recently broken up. Chicago police had no such details.

"We would just like to talk to him at this point," Alonzo said.

If Smith was indeed involved, it would be just the latest troubling episode for the teen-ager who lived in various group homes while spending 14 years as a ward of Illinois. He's been estranged from his parents since he was 5.

Less than three weeks ago in Dallas, Smith was arrested and put in a psychiatric ward after police found him overdosed on aspirin. Smith was charged with criminal mischief after he allegedly smashed the rear window of a sport utility vehicle owned by a friend.

When officers arrived, they found Smith passed out on the floor of his apartment and wearing green war paint on his face, a police report stated.

Smith's friend told police Smith had taken more than 250 pain relievers. Smith was taken to the psychiatric ward of Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas.

Smith declared himself eligible for the NBA draft after averaging 25.5 points, 14.5 rebounds and eight blocks as a senior at Chicago's Martin Luther King High School.

San Antonio took him with the final pick in the first round, then traded him to Dallas. Under NBA rules, all first-round selections get three-year guaranteed contracts. Smith's deal was worth $1.447 million.

Problems began almost immediately when during his first practice in July Smith clashed with assistant coach Donnie Nelson about running laps. Team officials then unsuccessfully tried to convince Smith that he would be better off spending the season overseas or in a developmental league.

Last week, Hunter and Purvis Short of the players' union traveled to Dallas to meet with Smith. They spent four days with the rookie, helping him with such basics as obtaining a photo identification card.

The Mavericks planned to have Smith play a season in a minor league or in Europe, but Smith balked. The team is keeping him on the injured list with a lower back strain, and Hunter has complained that Mavericks management has kept Smith isolated from the rest of the team.